Ground Broken on Charlotte's New Street Car

After a successful advent of nearly 1.5 miles of street car, city planners in Charlotte have broken ground on a 2.5 mile, $119 million dollar expansion to the fledgeling public transport system. Pitched as a major boon to local development and a great reliever of transit cost burdens, the development is championed by mayor Anthony Fox.

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Charlotte and federal officials broke ground Wednesday on the city’s streetcar project, saying it will create another transit option and spur development along the line.

But even as officials celebrated the start of construction on the initial 1.5-mile route, many questions remain about whether the city will be able to expand the project.

Debate over the streetcar – namely the approval of $119 million to add 2.5 miles to the line – has been a major factor in a six-month stalemate over the city’s next capital spending plan.